Always Look Back

They say you should never look back. Well, I’m here to tell you that you should. I’m at the midpoint of my college career: the second semester of my sophomore year. I could not be more grateful for all the people and events that have shaped me in the past year and a half. It’s safe to say that we fall into a lull, a monotonous routine broken up by bursts of excitement, as we go through our semesters. Day-to-day things seem static, there is no change, no life-altering decisions to be made at our age, our college lives are busy yet routine. We always notice when seasons change, semesters pass, people come, and people go. We always remember that 94 on the paper or that below-average score on the exam. We remember dates, events, parties, people… but what we fail to notice is that every little change in our surroundings and in our lives brings about a change in us. You are not the same person you were yesterday. Don’t believe me? Look back on your life even half a year ago. If something changed, so did you. We as students tend to overlook the little things. But slowly little things turn into big things. Your college life, no matter how stagnant it may seem, changes everyday. And with those changes, you change too. Looking back doesn’t stop you from seeing what’s ahead, it helps you evaluate whether you are where you want to be. What’s ahead is certainly more important than what’s left behind, but it is so important to be aware of what exactly you’ve left behind and what road you are paving. I encourage you to take some time and reflect on your college experience so far, whether you’re a first-year or a graduate student. Appreciate how far you’ve come, and love yourself regardless of the past.